Car-vestibule construction



Sept. 26, W33. w. H. MussEY El AL 1,923,692

CAR VESTIBULE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 new fir TUE/V5 Sept. 21s, 1933.

w; MUSSEY ET AL,

CAR VESTIBULE CONSTRUCTIDN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed' Jan. 23, 1932 atente Sept 9 CAR-VESULE William H. Massey and it i assignors to Chicago, Ill

CONSTRUCTION n P. Blomberg, ullman Car 85 Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, lllL, a corporation of Delare Application January 23, 1932 Serial No. 588,382

The invention relates to railway car vestibule construction designed to provide complete protection from the elements and minimize vibration of the vestibule diaphragm and platform trap and side door closures.

The invention contemplates the elimination of. dust and objectionable noises incident to vestibule assemblies heretofore employed and provides cushioning and weather sealing elements at the several joints between the vestibule framing, doors and diaphragm elements of the platform assembly, to the end that the atmosphere of the vestibule compartment may approximate that within the car to protect the persons. of those moving fromcar to car of the train.

The principal object of the invention is to so correlate the cushioning and weather-proofing means in the vestibule assembly as to render feasible the installation of heating mechanism open to the vestibule to insure comfortable pas sage between adjacent vestibules free from extreme temperature variations.

A further object is to provide a threshold plate construction involving secondary thresholds flanking the vestibule door opening to cover the openings between threshold ends of adjacent cars resulting from the separation of the plate ends during movement of the cars upon curves in the track.

An important object is to provide a weatherproof threshold and vestibule diaphragm connection yieldably mounted on the bufier sill and responsive. to-car movement and adapted to hold the lower edge of adjacent diaphragm side close 5 to the threshold plate. k

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an isometric view inelevation of one 3 corner of a railway car vestibule equipped with side doors, diaphragm and threshold construction in accordance with the invention, portions of the diaphragm and threshold assembly being broken away to better illustrate the relation of the assembly parts;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of the diaphragm and multiple threshold plate connection showing the method of pivoting the auxiliary threshold plates to which the lower ends of the vestibule diaphragm sides are secured;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view thru the vestibule end wall and diaphragm above the threshold plate showing the position assumed by the diaphragm and threshold elements when the car moves upon a curve;

vestibule side door, platform or trap door thresh- Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thru one of the diaphragm legs and the threshold plate taken on line 4-4, of Figure. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the resilient pressure means for holding down the auxiliary threshold plates;

Figure 5 is a'horizontal sectional view thru one leg of the vestibule diaphragm face plate immedi-- ately above the threshold plate holding down means showing the diaphragm secured to attaching flange on adjacent auxiliary threshold plate and the spring means for holding down the main threshold plate;

Figure 6 is a'vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6, of Figure 5, showing the flange arrangement on the underside of the auxiliary threshold plate for slidably engaging adjacent guiding lugs on theplatform; .7

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view thru the vestibule side door taken on line 77, of Figure 1, showingthe method of mounting the weatherstripping to the door framing at the free and hinged edges of the door; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view thru the old and door header, taken on line 88, of Figure 1, showing the application of movable weatherstripping to vestibule doors of the multi-section type.

In diaphragm and vestibule assemblies heretofore employed, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in protecting the vestibule interior from the elements because of the relatively large openings found at the joints between the threshold and lower ends of the diaphragm sides and 90 the lack of adequate Weatherstripping at the joints about the vestibule side doors. These openlugs allowed the outer air to enter the vestibule under high pressure duringtrain movement and rendered impossible any control of the temperature or movement of the air in the vestibule space because of the exposure to the air outside the car 16 of the car framing and extends from the buffer 11@ sill cover plate 17 on one side of vthe diaphragm and along the face plate 11 to the same plate on the opposite side of the diaphragm to provide an enclosed extension of the passageway between adjacent cars. As shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings, the vestibule diaphragm is operably suspended by adjustable hangers 18 pivotally secured at their upper ends to the vestibule end wall 19 and their lower ends to the diaphragm face plate 11 and adapted to restrain outward and lateral movements of the face plate 11 under thrust of bufiing gear center stem 6 and the usual upper buifing device (not shown), and relieve the stems 13 of the weight of the diaphragm to permit ready adjustment of the face plate to car movement about a curve in the track.

Supported upon and pivotally .secured to the buffer angle 12 is a main threshold plate 20 overlying the buffer angle 12 and sill cover plate 17 between the diaphragm sides and terminating in trunnions 21 having a bearing in journal brackets 22 secured to face plate 11 and buffer angle 12. The brackets function as housings for coil springs 23 disposed about the trunnions 21 with their opposite extensions 24 and 25 exerting pressure respectively against the face plate and threshold plate 20 to hold said threshold plate in yieldable sliding engagement with the buffer sill cover plate 17.

For the purpose of closing the openings 9 between threshold plate 20 and bufier end sill 14 adjacent the diaphragm sides, there is provided a plurality of auxiliary threshold plates 26 designed to overlie the end portions and adjacent corners of threshold plates 20, contiguous areas of buffer end sill 14 and cover plate 17, and spanning the opening 9. between them to at once prevent the entrance of dirt and outer air to the vestibule interior and provide a measure of safety to avoid any possibility of injury to persons traversing the platforms. As best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the auxiliary threshold plates 26 are pivotally secured by means of trunnions 2'7 journaled in underlying buffer angle and threshold plate portions 12 and 20 respectively, and held by stud screws 28 tapped into the trunnions and interposed washers 29 engaging the underside of adjacent buffer angle portion as indicated in Figure 2. The auxiliary threshold plates 26 are thus held free to move in response to angularities assumed by the diaphragm face and main threshold plates with respect to the relatively fixed buffer end sills 14.

To prevent deviation of the auxiliary threshold plates 26 from their position adjacent the diaphragm posts 16, the plates are provided on their under sides with guiding ribs 30 adapted to engage guiding posts 31 on the buffer end sill, whereby the plates will be slidably held in a path substantially parallel to theline of draft. The plates 26 are further provided with attaching flange portions 32 on the upper side thereof for holding down adjacent diaphragm sides; as shown in Figures 2 and 5, these flanges are shaped to conform to the normal contour of the fold in the diaphragm and perforated to receive removable securing bolts 33 for holding the diaphragm.

The threshold plate assembly is rendered noiseless by means of resilient holding, devices slidably engaging plates 26 thruout their respective operating movements; in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, such means is in the form of a lever pivotally mounted in housing bracket 34 and fulcrumed on pin 35 and comprising a finger portion 36 at all times in contact with respectively adjacent plates 26 and an arm portion 3'7 having a bearing upon underlying spring 38 supported in the bracket, the bracket being removably secured to respectively adjacent diaphragm posts 16 by bolts 39, as best shown in Figure 4. Thus in the extremes of diaphragm and buffer angle movement, the main and auxiliary threshold plates are resiliently held in slidable relation by yieldable means designed to prevent vibration or chattering of the plates engaged and the noises attending such vibration.

The vestibule side doors and'framing are likewise equipped with means for closing the joints between the door, vestibule platform and framing members to prevent drafts of outside air from sweeping the vestibule. As shown in- Figures 7 and 8, the vestibule and body comer posts 40 and 41 are provided with Weatherstripping 42 disposed at the free edge and hinge marginal portions of the vestibule door 43 and connected at their upper ends by similar Weatherstripping on the door lintel 44.

The lower edge of the door 43 is fitted with a Weatherstrip 45 mounted for protection from injury in groove 46 formed in the lower margin of the door and adapted to engage with a ridge 47 on the platform or trap door 48. In the embodiment shown, the Weatherstrip is pivotally supported on attaching leaf 49 of hinge 50 secured preferably to the inner wall 51 of groove 46. In its free position the Weatherstrip 45 is held projected by means of a metal spring s rip 52, of inverted V-shape, one leg 53 of which is inclined downwardly and outwardly and secured to the Weatherstrip and the other and free leg 54 hearing with its side againstthe inner wall 51 of the .pocket. The Weatherstrip 45 is preferably-composed of a packing of sponge rubber confined in a fiber cover having flange portions 55 held between a metallic backing strip 56 having an edge portion 57 conforming to the adjacent curved face of the packing and a reinforcing strip 58 on the outer side of strip flange 55. The strip parts thus assembled are held together and to the hinge leaves 49 by machine bolts 59 extending thru the strip and adjacent leg 53 of spring strip 52 supported by it, the spring strip extending only between the hinges. It will be noted that the reinforcing strip 58 on the Weatherstrip is formed with a flange 60 projecting outwardly from the base of the strip and adapted to contact with the outer wall 61 of pocket 46 to limit outward movement of the Weatherstrip to prevent abrasion of the packing and also functions as a bafiie plate against the entry of water and dirt driven against the door.

As indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7, the Weatherstrip 45'is preferably arranged in sections across the width of the door, the section nearest the hinge edge of the door being relatively short as indicated at 62 to permit movement thereof independently of the other section since it is the first to contact with the platform ridge 47 upon closing of the door. Such arrangement permits the Weatherstrip section farthest removed from the hinge to engage the ridge abutment without subjecting the section to the relatively extended movement of the short section and thereby prolong the useful life of the longer section as will be evident.

As indicated in Figure 8, the Weatherstrip will first engage the crest of ridge 4'7 and yield under thrust of door closing movement against opposing pressure of spring strip 52 when the packing will be compressed between the ridge and spring .strip as shown. In the present embodiment, the vestibule side door is of the well known safety-type divided horizontally to provide separate upper and lower' sections 7 and 8 operable successively whereby the lower section may be released only after the upper section has been opened. For the purpose of the invention, the upper edge of the lower section is provided with a ridge abutment 70 adapted to be engaged by Weatherstrip 71 supported in groove '72'formed in the lower edge of upper door section '7 to provide a seal for the joint between them.

When trap doors become warped or fail to close properly due to imperfect fastening or faulty construction, the size of the joint opening varies from time to time and necessitates the application of a hinged or other type of adjustable Weatherstripping responsive to such variations in the joint opening. However, in joints of relatively fixed character in which the members defining them move. each in parallel planes, the size of the joint opening is relatively constant, therefore a resilient Weatherstrip 71 of the fixed type as shown in Figure 8, may be used.

' As in the hinged Weatherstrip 45, a packing of sponge rubber is used and similarly encased in a fibrous cover having flange portions '73 held between resilient metal backing strips 74 and 75 thrust of door closing movement of upper section 7. In its free condition the packing is held normally projected until it contacts with the ridge member whereupon the strip will adjust itself to the ridge surface to completely seal the joint opening between them.

Obviously, the hinged type of Weatherstrip used at the trap door position could be substituted for the relatively fixed strip of the upper section 'I of the divided vestibule door shown in Figure 8 and vice versa should operating conditionswarrant such use.

With the vestibule closure efiected to exclude air and dirt as above outlined, it becomes possible to introduce sufficient heat to the vestibule to take the chill from the passageways. This may be done by the installation of radiators preferably in the end bulkhead 81 of the car as indicated in Figures 7 and 8, at one side of the door opening 82 and in position to be covered by adjacent vestibule door when the door is open.

With the vestibule constructed as described, the discomforts of travel, as a consequence of the noises incident to diaphragm operation, the fumes V and dirt forced into the vestibule by the elements, and the extremely low temperatures of the air in the vestibules in cold weather have been overcome by the improved closures provided at the diaphragm and vestibule side door positions.'

The vestibule diaphragm face plate 11 is iniii dicated as a pressed metal channel-shaped member of the assembly, but the invention is not limited to the use of face plates thus formed, and

face plates of other'cross-section and configuration may be substituted for that shown in the drawings.

What we claim is:-

1. A car-vestibule construction including side door closures and an intermediate diaphragm, a

platform connecting said diaphragm and door closures, and weather excluding means closing the joints between the platform and said other ings between said wall and bulkhead, weather excluding means between said platform, side doors and diaphragm, and heating means adjacent said doors.

4. The combination comprising a car platform having trap doors, an end bulkhead and a vesti-- bule end wall, passageways in said wall and bulkhead, a diaphragm extending the passageway in said wall, side doors closing the openings between said wall and bulkhead, and weather excluding means between said platform and diaphragm and trap and side doors, respectively.

5. The combination comprising a car platform, an end bulkhead and a vestibule end wall, passageways in said wall and bulkhead, a diaphragm extending the passageway in said wall, a main threshold plate between said diaphragm and platform, and pivotally mounted auxiliary weatherexcluding threshold plates between the dia phragm and said main plate.

6. In a car-vestibule construction including an end bulkhead and a vestibule end wall, a passageway in said end wall and a connecting platform, spaced diaphragm posts defining a passageway in said end wall, a diaphragm extending said passageway, and a threshold plate assembly extending between said posts and comprising main and auxiliary weather-excluding plates respectively pivoted to move in planes at right angles to each other.

"I. In a car-vestibule construction, the com bination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway, a diaphragm extending said passageway, and main and auxiliary threshold plates in said passageway movable with said diaphragm, said main plate being mounted to pivot in a vertical plane and the auxiliary plates pivoted to move in planes parallel to the main plate.

8. In a car-vestibule construction, the combination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passgeway, and main and auxiliary threshold plates in said passageway movable with said diaphragm, said auxiliary plates being fulcrumed in said main plate for independent movement in planes parallel to the main plate.

9. In a car-vestibule construction, thercombination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passageway, a main threshold plate pivotally mounted in said passageway movable with said diaphragm, and auxiliary threshold plates at the ends of and fulcrumed in said main plate for independent movement in planes parallel to the main plate.

10. In a car-vestibule construction, the combination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passageway, a main threshold plate pivotally mounted in said passageway movable with said diaphragm and having end trunnion portions to permit movement of said plate in a vertical plane, independently movable auxiliary threshold plates fulcrumed on said main plate for movement in planes paral-- lel to said main plate, and spring means for holding down said plates.

11. In a car-vestibule construction, the com bination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passageway, a main threshold plate pivotally mounted in said passageway movable with said diaphragm and having end trunnion portions to permit movement of said plate in a vertical plane, independently movable auxiliary threshold plates fulcrurned on said main plate for movement in planes parallel to said main plate, and yieldable holding-down means slidably engaging said auxiliary plates.

12. In a car-vestibule construction, the combination including a platform and a vestibule endwall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passageway, a main threshold plate pivotally mounted in said passageway movable with said diaphragm and having end trunnion portions to permit movement of said plate in vertical planes, independently movable auxiliary threshold plates fulcrumed on said main plate for movement in planes parallel to said main plate, spring housing brackets secured to said wall adjacent the respective auxiliary plates, springs in said housings, and a bent lever fulcrumed in said bracket and yieldably engaging said spring and auxiliary plates.

13. In a car-vestibule construction, the combination including a platform and a vestibule end wall having a passageway to the platform, a diaphragm extending said passageway, a main threshold plate pivotally mounted in said passageway, separate auxiliary threshold plates fulcrumed upon said plate and extending therebeyond lengthwise of the car, and guiding means on said platform adapted for engagement with said auxiliary plates.

14. The combination comprising a car platform, an end bulkhead and a vestibule end wall, vestibule side doors closing the openings between said wall and bulkhead and formed with marginal lower portions defining grooves opening to the platform, abutment ridges on said platform underlying said grooves, and weather stripping yieldably mounted in said grooves and adapted for sealing engagement with said ridges.

15. The combination comprising a car platform, an'end bulkhead and a vestibule end wall, upper and lower door sections closing the vestibule be tween said wall and bulkhead and formed with marginal lower portions defining grooves opening respectively to the lower section and the platform, abutment ridges on said lower door section and platform underlying the grooves in respectively adjacent door sections, and weatherstripping yieldably mounted in said grooves and adapted for sealing engagement with said ridges.

WILLIAM H. MUSSEY. MARTIN P. BLOMBERG. 

